I Heart You Too (Including You Shadow)

Chapter three: Apologies and meetups

Sonic headed out the door and looked around, trying to figure out which way Knuckles went. Knowing the stubborn echidna, he'd probably just find a secluded spot to brood.

After a while of searching, he finally spotted Knuckles sitting on a rock, scowling to himself. "I can hear you hedgehog." Knuckles said not taking his eyes off whatever he was looking at. "Why are you here?" He asked finally looking at Sonic after a while of trying to avoid him.

Sonic rolled his eyes. Typical Knuckles, always trying to act tough.

"I'm here to talk to you, idiot." he replied, walking over and leaning against the rock. "We need to talk about earlier. You can't just storm off like that and expect us to just let it go. We're a team, whether you like it or not."

"Has Maddie sent you here? To try and converse with me?" He asked avoiding Sonic's gaze once again staring off into the distance. "I can assure you that it will not work.. Especially on me." Knuckles scoffed and shifted his position to where his back was turned on his younger brother. Sonic was silent before sighing already dreading the conversation.

"Of course Maddie sent me here. Someone has to talk some sense into you, and it sure as hell ain't gonna be Tails while he's in recovery." He crossed his arms and looked directly at Knuckles, refusing to back down. "And stop avoiding my gaze. Look at me and listen for once."

Knuckles remained silent before looking at Sonic. "Fine you have my attention. Speak now." He demanded waiting for Sonic to speak. Sonic took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure.

"You can't keep acting like you're better than us, and that you can handle everything on your own. That Shadow guy almost had us beat earlier, and you saw how strong he was."

He paused, meeting Knuckles' gaze. "We're stronger when we work together, and as much as you piss me off sometimes, I care about you and the team. We need each other, whether you admit it or not." Knuckles let out a low hum. "I do suppose your right..I was acting unfair to you and your- our brother. However I am not apologizing for my words. As a warrior it is my sacred duty to make sure the people of this planet are safe and I will do it with or without you."

His words were firm but it wasn't him being obnoxious again. He was genuine with them. "You and Tails are my siblings and as my job I shall protect my siblings no matter how upset we are at each other."

He finished he blinked and his gaze shifted towards Sonic.

Sonic raised an eyebrow, surprised at Knuckles' admission and lack of apology.

"Well that's a surprise coming from you," he muttered sarcastically.

Sonic's expression softened slightly as he caught the hint of genuine concern in Knuckles' eyes. He could tell that deep down, Knuckles did care about them, even if he had a strange way of showing it.

"Look, I get that you've got a duty to protect people, and I respect that. But you can't do it all alone. We're a team, and that means we've got each other's backs, no matter what." Knuckles barley noticed Sonic's sarcasm. "As a warrior of honer I respect you for coming to speak to me even if Maddie did put you up to it. It was very...Nobel of you."

Knuckles stood up and extended his hand. "How about a truce? Or whatever people on earth call promises?" He suggested. Sonic couldn't help but roll his eyes at Knuckles' formal and stoic nature, typical.

He looked at the extended hand for a moment before taking it, shaking firmly.

"Yeah, a truce sounds fine. As long as you agree not to be a lone wolf all the time and actually work with us when we need you to."

"And you have to promise to be a better leader and properly lead this team to victory." Knuckles replied and returned the gesture.

"Now that we've made up how is the fox doing? Is he still unconscious?" Knuckles asked switching the topic. Sonic nodded in agreement, accepting Knuckles' terms.

"Yeah, Tails is still out cold, but Maddie's taking good care of him. He'll wake up soon enough."

He paused for a moment, mulling something over in his mind.

"I've been thinking... that Hedgehog we fought earlier. It might be a good idea to try and figure out who he is and what his deal is. We can't let another situation like this happen again."

"You are right...We do not know who or what he can do..And he is a danger for our kind and people's kind, I say we go to Wade's place maybe he can track him or Robotnicks."

Knuckles answered. Wade was a close friend of his and Sonic's— Sonic met Wade first when Sonic first came to earth. "We should go now before it gets dark.." He added jumping off the rock and landed on the ground. It was already the evening and they couldn't waste any time.

Especially when Sonic didn't even know where Shadow ended up he could be on earth somewhere causing damage and chaos and they wouldn't even know. Sonic nodded in agreement, jumping down from the rock to join Knuckles.

"Yeah, let's get a move on then. The sooner we figure out who this Shadow guy is and what he's up to, the better."

He cracked a smirk as they started walking. "And if he's causing trouble, we'll just have to knock him down a peg or two. Nobody messes with my team and gets away with it, including some wannabe copycat."

"I honer your bravery Hedgehog. Although it's no match for me I still respect it." Knuckles said giving Sonic a half compliment and started the direction of Wade's house.

Sonic rolled his eyes once again, but couldn't help smiling slightly.

"Yeah, yeah, you're a big strong echidna, we get it." he replied jokingly.

As they continued walking, Sonic couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety and unease. The fact that this Shadow character was still out there, doing who knows what, made him wary and cautious.

"Do not worry Sonic we'll find him..And once we do we'll repay him by damaging every bone in his body..*NO ONE* messes with *MY* little brother and thinks they can get away with it."

He said getting aggressive with his statement as he continued. "This Hedgehog is going to wish he'd never set a foot on earth." He finished speaking to himself. Sonic chuckled slightly, appreciating Knuckles' protective nature.

"I like the enthusiasm, Knucks. Trust me, I'm all for kicking this Shadow guy's ass. But let's try and keep a level head, yeah? We still don't know what we're dealing with, and rushing in without a plan could bite us in the ass."

Eh they'll eventually tell Maddie where they were going..Soon..